Karim Benzema hit five in four games at the start of the season but is now without a goal in his last seven appearances, while Gareth Bale has gone four league games without scoring and Mariano Diaz has only netted once since his return from Lyon.

Schuster, though, has warned Madrid against signing another forward in early 2019 as he thinks it unlikely any top-class players will be made available.

"I wouldn't sign anyone in the winter market because if what you want is to bring in a star or someone who improves what you have, I think that if a club allows a player to leave like that it'll be because he's not right," he told Marca.

"Arriving in January without having good rhythm is very difficult. They won't easily let a striker leave if he has 20 goals with his team.

"What happens is that Ronaldo didn't only guarantee you goals, but the opponents unconsciously change the way they play.

"Sometimes, a leader is missing. Madrid didn't have one in Moscow [a 1-0 Champions League defeat to CSKA] and it was too noticeable."